An interesting study of the High Command of WW2 (mild spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (19 June 2002)

While the Longest Day doesn't give you much of an idea of how terrible war is (only one significant character dies, and there's no blood), and is hindered somewhat by John Wayne (who doesn't really belong in a movie like this), it is an interesting study of the High Command on both sides. I also like the way that it depicted the German commanders as intelligent human beings rather than idiotic, power-mad war mongers who somehow managed to conquer Europe, as war movies are wont to do. I wish the character of Erwin Rommel had been more significant, because it would have added depth, seeing as how Rommel really wasn't that bad of a guy. I also liked the scene where an American killed a German trying to surrender, because unlike most war movies it acknowledged that bad things happen on both sides. A good depiction of the planning and command decisions made on and immediately before D-Day, and how it all went wrong for the Germans.